Families come to the Town Lake Animal Center looking for a permanent addition to their family.
But one recent visit was prompted by News 8's Pet of the Week segment on Pepper the cat who was in need of a temporary foster family.
"Well, Saturday morning, my daughter and I saw your clip about little Pepper and we were just immediately touched," Lori Wood explained.
The Wood family just moved to Dripping Springs from Denton in North Texas. When they heard Pepper's story, it touched their hearts.
Staff Sgt. Jose Cerca, who served as a Marine recruiter in Austin, is now stationed in Japan with his wife and three kids.
A last-minute paperwork problem prevented the family from taking their adult cat, Pepper, with them.
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Military Cat
News 8's Paul Brown shows how some local neighbors helped a military family in need.
 
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They e-mailed News 8 and explained that they had to leave Pepper at the Town Lake Animal Center and hoped news coverage would help find him a foster family.
After an unusual Pet of the Week segment, the Woods wasted little time.
"Just the thought of leaving one of our pets behind just really touched our hearts and then, after sharing it with my husband, we felt it was the right thing to do," Lori Wood said.
Wood's daughter, Hannah, hopes to be a veterinarian when she grows up and caring for someone else's animal is a great start.
"It would make them happy if he could stay just for six months and they wouldn't have to worry about him," Hannah Wood said.
The Woods and Cercas have exchanged several overseas e-mails, including snapshots of Pepper. While they don't have any family or friends in the military, they said they're thankful for those who serve in the armed forces.
"And if this is something that we can do to help them, as well as help this little guy, then we're just thrilled to do it," Lori Wood said.
The Cercas said they couldn't be happier that Pepper is in such good hands until the paperwork and finances can be arranged to get their pet to Japan.
